'We're over here,' the old woman shouted.'
'I see you, Sister.'
Alison thought the voice belonged to a girl. Then, as the coracle drew near, she realised the occupant was a boy. He ran the craft ashore and waded towards them. Frost covered his outer tunic down to his thighs. Below that he was soaking wet.
'Sister.'
He ran forward and grasped the old woman's hands.
'The princess is badly hurt. There's been a great battle. The Sky Warrior has beaten Morgon but he's escaped into the marshes with his men. We've got to get to Adrina before it is too late.'
The boy's teeth chattered. His face was blue and the ends of his fingers were deadly white. Alison ran to the fire and blew it into life. Then she shouted to Fury to get some dry clothes. She had been given a tunic that was too small for her but it would fit the boy.
The lad was stockily built with fair hair and freckles. Alison pulled at his outer tunic, which was caked in ice. He tried to help her undo the toggles but his fingers were numb. After a struggle with ice-encrusted leather, she freed the toggles and pulled the tunic over his head.
Alison was filled with admiration. The boy was suffering from the cold yet he'd kept going. She undid the belt that secured his trousers. For a moment she felt shy. He was hardly a mature adult but he wasn't immature either. She wondered how he must feel, being undressed by two women, one not much older than himself and the other old enough to be his grandmother.
Weasel didn't seem to notice. He was either too cold or didn't care. She dried him with a linen cloth and helped Miralda dress him in dry clothes. He wanted to leave at once but the old woman said they should wait for the turn of the tide. She gave him something to drink and he was soon asleep.
The tide turned towards midday. Fury helped Weasel pull their two coracles into the water. The boy wanted Alison to go with him. Fury began to argue.
'Little Cat comes with me.'
'It's best she comes with me and you follow,' the boy replied.
'She comes with me,' Fury insisted.
'Brother. There are things I must teach her.'
'Don't tell me what to do.'
Alison led Fury aside. 'What's the matter?'
'I'm not going to be told what to do.' Fury shook with anger. 'I'm a prince of the royal blood. I don't take orders from little boys.'